Page:Thus Spake Zarathustra - Alexander Tille - 1896.djvu/254

 22O THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA, III

ray longest wandering. Therefore I must first de- scend deeper than I ever ascended

Descend deeper into pain, than I ever ascended until I reach its blackest flood. Thus my fate willeth. Up ! I am ready.

'Whence spring the -highest mountains?' Thus I once asked. Then I learned that they spring from the sea.

This testimony is written in their stones and in the walls of their summits. Out of the greatest depth the highest must rise unto its height."

Thus spake Zarathustra on the summit of the mountain where it was cold. But when he came nigh unto the sea and at last stood alone among the cliffs, he had grown weary on the way and felt a deeper longing than ever before.

"Now everything is asleep," said he. "The sea is asleep also. Full of sleep and strange its eye gazeth at me.

But warm is its breath, I feel it. And I also feel that it dreameth. Dreamy it tosseth to and fro on its hard pillows.

Hearken ! Hearken ! How it groaneth with evil reminiscences ! Or with evil expectations ?

Oh, I am sad with thee, thou dark monster, and I am angry at myself even for thy sake.

Alas, that my hand hath not strength enough ! Fain, truly, would I redeem thee from evil dreams ! "

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